Like all big American-made pickups, the Sierra comes in two and four-wheel-drive, in light-duty (1500) and medium-duty (2500) loading and towing capacities, with short-bed and long-bed bodies, and with fendered or full-width beds. There are standard-length two-door cabs and extended-length cabs with two more auxiliary doors in the rear. New for 2002 is a 1500 HD Crew Cab, with four full-size doors, just like the heavy-duty work-site models.
Engine choices for 1500 models range from a basic 4.3-liter V6, up through a 4.8-liter V8 (standard in extended cabs), and a 5.3-liter V8. Extended-cab, long box 1500s and all 2500s come with a 300-horsepower 6.0-liter V8. Five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions are offered.
Trim levels have been revised for 2002, and now begin with Standard, and advance through SL and SLE. SLT returns as a leather-and-luxury equipment package.
Also returning in revised form is last year's Sierra C3, now labeled Sierra Denali. Available only as an extended-cab, short-bed 4x4, Denali packs a 325-horsepower version of the 6.0-liter V8, along with automatic transmission and an exclusive, sophisticated full-time all-wheel-drive system. For 2002, it also comes with GM's electronically controlled four-wheel-steering system called Quadrasteer. Quadrasteer reduces Sierra's curb-to-curb turning diameter by 21 percent, to just 37.4 feet, which is within inches of a Saturn SC1. Quadrasteer also enhances high-speed stability.
Since Quadrasteer requires a five-inch increase in track, you can spot a Denali by its unique rear fender blisters. Denali also features a full pallet of luxury equipment and the ZX3 Ride Control suspension, with cockpit-adjustable shock absorbers.
Like the Denali, the new Professional is available only with a short box and extended cab, but unlike GMC's flagship pickup, the Professional is offered in two- or four-wheel drive, and it should be priced much lower. Starting with SLE-level equipment, the Professional adds a special full-length console with concealed storage for a personal digital assistant (PDA), cell phone, and other items; a seven-quart cooler; a cooled or heated cup holder, and a second Big Gulp-sized cup holder for those entrepreneurial doses of caffeine. The console can be converted to store hanging file folders. The Professional also features more lockable storage under the rear seat, a bold chrome grille, 16-inch alloy wheels and unique exterior identification. Standard power with two-wheel drive is the 4.8-liter V8 and automatic transmission, but 4x4 Professionals come standard with the 5.3. SLT trim with leather is an option.
Sierra prices cover a broad range, starting at $17,408 for a standard-trim, V6 1500 2WD, and more than doubling to $43,385 for the luxurious, high-tech Denali. A short-box, 4WD extended-cab SLE would include the 4.8-liter V8 for $29,266; and many popular 2WD models list in the $23,000-$27,000 range.
For even heavier-duty hauling, GMC builds the 3/4-ton Sierra 2500HD and 3500. (See review on the heavy duty Sierra models at NewCarTestDrive.com.)